An overflight inspection of the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster site 40 miles south of Grand Isle this past weekend found a new, mile-long oil sheen, which has prompted the U.S. Coast Guard to again require BP to inspect the wellhead and debris area on the floor of the Gulf of Mexico with a remotely operated vehicle for the source of the oil. The flight was piloted by Bonny Schumaker, founder of the California-based non-profit On Wings of Care, which has conducted surveillance flights in the Gulf in the two years since the spill. [...]

We flew this area again yesterday, Saturday Nov 10, and spoke again with scientists aboard the research vessel Falkor, who sampled the surface oil and, more importantly, have been looking under the surface to the seafloor with their ROV and taking samples from the ocean bottom and in the water column. Here is some of what they told us (the quotes are from Dr. Ian MacDonald of Florida State University):

[... "]Although we are seeing floating oil slicks over the MC252 site, it appears that their source is not associated with the well. The most likely source are what are probably natural seeps to the east, associated with a salt dome. …”

[...] But the concern we probably all share is that this does not appear to be from a previously existing or at least previously documented natural seep, and therefore if this is not still residual oil from leaking hardware after 30+ months, then is it coming from some new cracks caused by the Deepwater Horizon explosion?

So why haven't they just installed a permanent camera system down there. wouldn't it be cheaper than having to go down there and check it all the time? Also wouldn't it be better to have continuous monitoring. Maybe one of the bribe takers in the epa could pass this along to someone with a conscience.

In 1989?, the oil industry in cohorts with the American government detonated a nuclear bomb into the Mississippi Alluvial Plain to break up oil and gas deposits. It worked, but the product was too contaminated to use…ahem, correction…accept, i guess we're going to use it now after all cuz we want it bad enough. Anyway, this explosion added to the cracking of this mega undersea, underland plain. They should have asked some five year old first if they thought it was a good idea, but, being in a hurry, they didn't.

As of the the past several years the methane ice layer all around the globe has started to thaw and release methane to the surface. This layer is under sea and under land both.

In the past several weeks, there have been frequent sitings of oil slicks not far from the Macondo Deep Water Horizon Well head. It is believed by many to be coming from new cracks. But, the oil tests positive to be BP's Maconda oil. Methane is forcing the oil up out of cracks because the pressure from the methane underneath it is intensifying, or at least, is much higher than BP and many geologists considered likely.

Today, there was another deadly rig explosion that is likely leaking oil that is located in what is considered the shallows.

According to Dr. MacDonald, "The most likely source are what are probably natural seeps to the east, associated with a salt dome. …” And my question is: just what is a "natural seep." for oil, and just which salt dome is he referring to?

The thought of those cracks is very worrying, not just on their own account, but if they connect both to the New Madrid fault system and the Caribbean plate, then that could allow the transmission of stress from the faults ringing the pacific to the New Madrid area.

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